Method and apparatus for automatically integrating a medical device into a medical facility network

ABSTRACT

A method for integrating a medical device into a medical facility network by equipping the medical device with wireless communication device is disclosed. The medical device is provided into a medical treatment area within wireless range of the medical facility network. The medical facility network is configured to detect the medical device upon entry into the medical treatment area, and then recognize or authenticate the medical device. The medical facility network is configured to thereafter transmit an initialization signal to the medical device. A system for integrating medical devices, a medical device capable of integration, and a medical facility network are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/411,428, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTEGRATINGA MEDICAL DEVICE INTO A MEDICAL FACILITY NETWORK,” filed on Jan. 20,2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,212,032, issued on Feb. 19, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/327,614, entitled“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTEGRATING A MEDICAL DEVICEINTO A MEDICAL FACILITY NETWORK,” filed on Dec. 3, 2008, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,585,562, issued on Mar. 7, 2017, all of which are incorporated intheir entirety herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus forautomatically integrating a medical device into a medical facilitynetwork.

BACKGROUND

In modern medical facilities such as hospitals, health careprofessionals use various medical devices to view patient information orprovide medical care to a patient. Some medical devices administermedical care; for example, an intravenous (IV) pump that delivers asolution containing a medication into a patient's bloodstream or aventilator that delivers oxygen to a patient's lungs. Other medicaldevices measure and report a patient's physiological status; forexample, an electrocardiograph (EKG) that measures and recordselectrical currents associated with heart contractions.

In a patient room, typically the patient is lying in a bed surrounded byvarious medical devices. In some cases, the medical devices areawkwardly and dangerously arranged around the patient's bed. The medicaldevices may hang from the ceiling, hang from bed rails, lie on the bed,sit on the floor, etc. The placement of these medical devices is oftenrandom and creates serious safety risks to the patient. There are alsorisks to health care professionals who attempt to carry or maneuverheavy devices in crowded quarters.

These medical devices have cords, wires, and tubes arranged in a tangledweb that poses a safety risk. Also, many medical devices have their owndisplay panel and control panel, which may be small (difficult to see),awkwardly located, space occupying, expensive, and redundant. Manymedical devices include their own battery, which in addition to theextra control panels and read-out screens, takes up space and addsweight and expense. In certain rooms such as an intensive care unit,efficient organization of medical devices and utilization of space areeven more critical due to the unstable, critical condition of thepatient, number of devices, and the high cost of space.

Generally, the various medical devices surrounding a patient's bedoperate independently of each other and include non-standard wires,tubes, and interfaces. One problem is lack of integration between themedical devices. For example, some medical devices generate informationin a proprietary format, which is not compatible with other medicaldevices from different vendors. In another example, a medical device mayproduce an analog signal for a patient's vital signs. Because the signalis not digital or recorded, the analog signal must be transcribed onto apiece of paper or else the information is lost. As a result of this lackof integration, health care professionals must pay greater attention tocontrol and monitor many medical devices individually, requiring morepersonnel to transcribe the data, more time to review the data, andgreater potential for lost data and transcription error. Some deviceswith analog signals may store the data for short periods of time butagain, the time must be taken later to review and transcribe theinformation.

Another problem is that many of the sophisticated medical devices needto boot up and/or power up before they can be used, normally requiring acertain amount of time before the medical devices are operable andintegrated into the network. In emergency situations, time is criticaland any delay can cause complications for a patient. It would bedesirable for the medical devices to be ready for operation at the timea health care professional brings the medical devices into a patientroom. In addition to patient rooms, these same concerns apply foroperating rooms and other treatment rooms, including emergency rooms,examination rooms, etc.

Additionally, many medical devices operate independent of a health carecomputer system or an electronic medical record in which a database ofpatient medical records is stored. Consequently, health care personnelneed to read information from the medical devices and manually enter theinformation into the health care computer system for storage in thedatabase. In one example, data from medical devices such as glucometers,electrocardiogram (EKG) apparatuses, IV pumps, blood pressuremonitoring, ventilators, and respiratory devices are not linked to theelectronic medical record. Manual transfer of information from themedical devices to the health care computer system is time-consuming andprone to error.

The aforementioned problems and inefficiencies with medical devices areof particular concern in intensive care units for neonates, children,and adults. In these environments, the patients are typically at higherrisk; consequently, there is a greater volume of information per patientand a greater number of medical devices used. Therefore, there is aneven greater need to have an efficient system which integrates theinitialization and control of the medical devices.

SUMMARY

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or moreof the problems presented in the prior art, described above, as well asproviding additional features that will become readily apparent byreference to the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

One or more embodiments are directed to a method of initializing amedical device within a medical treatment area. The method includesdetecting the medical device upon introduction of the medical deviceinto the medical treatment area within a wireless range of a medicalfacility network and authenticating the medical device based on deviceidentity information specific to the medical device if the medicaldevice is not recognized by the medical facility network because themedical device was previously retired and removed from the medicalfacility network. The method also includes transmitting aninitialization signal from the medical facility network to the medicaldevice if the medical device is recognized or authenticated by themedical facility network. The method further includes initializing themedical device in response to the medical device receiving theinitialization signal.

One or more embodiments are directed to a system for integrating amedical device into a medical facility network. The system includes aterminal interfacing with the medical facility network, a display incommunication with the terminal, and a medical device within wirelessrange of the medical facility network. The medical facility network isconfigured to detect the medical device upon introduction of the medicaldevice into a medical treatment area, determine if the detected medicaldevice is recognized, authenticate the medical device based on deviceidentity information specific to the medical device if the medicaldevice is not recognized because the medical device was previouslyretired and removed from the medical facility network, and transmit aninitialization signal to the medical device if the medical device isrecognized or authenticated. In response to receiving the transmittedinitialization signal, the medical device is configured to initialize byone of powering the medical device into an active power state, startingup a software program, and unlocking the medical device.

One or more embodiments are directed to a medical device having aprocessor, a storage medium and a wireless communication interface. Themedical device is configured to be automatically detected uponintroduction into a medical treatment area, recognized or authenticatedby a medical facility network, the authentication based on deviceidentity information specific to the medical device if the medicaldevice is not recognized because the medical device was previouslyretired and removed from the medical facility network, and automaticallyinitialized, in response to receiving an initialization signal, theautomatic initialization comprising one of powering the medical deviceinto an active power state, starting up a software program, andunlocking the medical device.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments,and other features of the embodiments will become apparent after reviewof the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, DetailedDescription, and the Claims, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects of the embodiments described herein will becomemore readily apparent by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective depiction of an exemplary medical device,according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary operating system of themedical device of FIG. 1 and shows a network connection between themedical device, a central computer, a storage medium, and the internetaccording to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective depiction of an exemplary medical treatmentarea, such as an operating room, in which the disclosed embodiments maybe employed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of exemplary medical devices which may be usedaccording to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of a medical device entering a medicaltreatment area, according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of integrating a medicaldevice into a medical facility network, according to disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of authenticating amedical device by a medical facility network, according to disclosedembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently disclosedembodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

The present invention addresses the need to integrate medical devices ina medical facility. The integration of medical devices allows a healthcare professional to view the medical devices operating conditions on adisplay and control the medical devices from a single terminal.Integration of the medical devices is facilitated by the use of wirelesscommunication.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a medical device 10 in accordance withcertain embodiments is shown. Medical device 10 may comprise a mobile orstationary dispensing station 15. Dispensing station 15 may be used inan institution to controllably dispense medication and other items foruse in treating patients. Such an exemplary medical device 10 isdescribed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20070135965,entitled “System and Method for Storing Items and Tracking Item Usage,”incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, the dispensingstation 15 is but one example of a medical device 10 for purposes ofthis disclosure. The term “medical device” as used herein refers to anydevice capable of wireless communication, such as dispensing station 15,an infusion pump, an oxygen monitor, etc., that is configured forwireless communication.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing station 15 comprises a cabinet 12supported by wheels 14 so that it may be moved easily to medicaltreatment areas throughout a medical facility, such as into an operatingroom. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cabinet 12 holds slidingtrays or drawers 16 of varying shapes and sizes for storing a widevariety of items. The number and configuration of the drawers 16 may bemodified to meet the needs of the institution in which the dispensingstation 15 is used.

Reference numeral 30 refers to a schematically depicted a wirelesscommunication device that provides wireless communication capability tothe medical device 10. The depiction is representational only, and isnot meant to depict any actual physical configuration or location of anyparticular wireless communication device.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, drawers 16 are coupled toa control unit 18 for limiting and tracking user access to stored items.The control unit 18 comprises a slide control mechanism (not shown) withlocking hardware, such as solenoids, latches, and/or muscle wires,controlled by a processor 20. The control unit 18 also includes astorage medium 40 in communication with processor 20. In someembodiments, the processor 20 is in communication with a deviceinterface such as a terminal 22. In some embodiments the communicationbetween the processor 20 and storage medium 40 or terminal 22 isachieved using a bus 25.

The terminal 22 comprises a keyboard 24 and a display screen or display26. In some embodiments, display 26 is a touch screen, which allows ahealth care professional or user to interact with images displayed onthe screen to input data and commands for use by the processor 20 tocontrol the operation of the cabinet 12. Persons of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that a mouse or other pointing device (notshown) may be used in combination with display 26 to interact withimages displayed on the screen.

In one embodiment, a communication interface 52 is also in communicationwith processor 20 and terminal 22 via bus 25. Communication interface 52may comprise a network interface card, modem, port, or some othercommunication device. In one embodiment, the communication interface 52is coupled to and communicates with a medical facility network 32 viacommunications link 51. In some embodiments, communication interface 52is in wireless communication with medical facility network 32. This mayinclude incorporation of or connection to a wireless communicationdevice 30 (not illustrated in FIG. 2).

Referring briefly now to FIG. 3, a perspective depiction of an exemplaryoperating room 100, in which a medical device 10 may be employed isshown. It is noted that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to anoperating room 100, and may be utilized in accordance with any medicaltreatment area within a medical facility, including, for example, apatient room.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, an operating room 100includes a patient bed 110, a lighting assembly 120, a utensil platform130, a plurality of terminals 140, a plurality of displays 150, aplurality of inventory storage devices 160, a waste disposal device 170,an electronic monitoring device 180, an IV fluid stand 195 and aninfusion pump 190. Operating room 100 may additionally include otherequipment as desired, including, for example, anesthesia equipment,defibrillators, vital signs monitors, respiratory ventilators, dialysismachines, etc.

As stated above, “medical device” 10 refers to any device capable ofwireless communication, such as dispensing station 15 or inventorystorage device 160. Exemplary additional equipment which may be referredto as medical devices 10 are shown in FIG. 4. Such medical devices 10include, for example, medical care devices 60 and medical monitoringdevices 70. Medical care devices 60 include a ventilator 61, an IV pump62, an radiant heater 63, a defibrillator 64, dispensing station 15,inventory storage device 160, etc. Medical monitoring devices 70 includean oxygen monitor 71, a carbon monoxide monitor 72, a glucose monitor73, a temperature monitor 74, an invasive blood pressure monitor 75, anon-invasive blood pressure monitor 76, a heart monitor (EKG) 77, aweight monitor 78, a central venous pressure (CVP) monitor 79, arespiration monitor 80, a pulse monitor 81, a fluid/air output monitor82, a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monitor 83, and a tissue compartmentpressure monitor 84. Both medical care devices 60 and medical monitoringdevices 70 are meant to be exemplary and not an exhaustive list ofmedical devices 10 for use in the present invention.

It should be apparent that medical devices 10 may be transported andused for a number of patients in a number of medical treatment areas. Asa result, these medical devices 10 are frequently cycled on and off.Because many health care professionals handle the medical devices 10, itmay be difficult to ascertain the location or track the movement of themedical devices 10 within the medical facility.

Consequently, equipping the medical devices 10 with the ability toexpedite their deployment within an operating room 100 is desirable. Inaccordance with certain exemplary embodiments, medical devices 10 suchas dispensing station 15 or inventory storage device 160 includewireless communication device 30. Without being bound by any particulartheory, it is believed that equipping the medical devices 10 withwireless communication device 30 will reduce the time necessary tointegrate the medical devices 10 into an operating room 100 or othermedical treatment area and initialize the medical devices 10.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in certain embodiments the dispensing station15 is part of a system 31 and is linked via a medical facility network32 to a central computer 34 with access to a centralized storage devicesuch as storage medium 36. The devices in communication with medicalfacility network 32 may also be referred to as entities or nodes. Thearrangement of the network 32 and the nodes may take different forms,and that depicted in FIG. 2 is exemplary only.

In certain embodiments, medical facility network 32 is configured to beable to physically connect to the medical devices 10 and wirelesslyconnect to the medical devices 10. Technologies suitable for wirelesscommunication include Bluetooth, Zigbee, radio frequency identification(RFID) and ultra-wide band (UWB), to name a few. In one embodiment,communication interface 52 comprises a wireless network interface card.

Connection of medical facility network 32 to the medical devices 10allows the medical devices 10 to share and exchange data with othermedical devices 10 and entities such as central computer 34 and storagemedium 36. Storage medium 36 may include, for example, one or moredatabases having patient-specific information and information regardingitems currently stored or are to be stored in the dispensing station 15.In these embodiments, the medical facility network 32 provides the meansfor the control unit 18 to automatically obtain patient-specificinformation. In certain exemplary embodiments, medical facility network32 is connected to the Internet 38.

Because medical facilities employ a very large number of differentmedical devices 10, it is desirable to limit the wireless range of themedical devices 10, so as to limit interference between the medicaldevices 10 and other equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the wirelessrange of the medical devices 10 is limited to approximately the medicaltreatment area. Such a limit on the wireless range may be achieved bylimiting the power level of the medical device 10 to a maximum thresholdvalue.

Alternatively, rather than limiting the wireless range of the medicaldevices 10, employing physical or electromagnetic barriers that preventthe transmitting and receiving of wireless communication signals outsideof the desired area may be used. For example, in a typical operatingroom 100, the walls may be lined with lead, thereby preventingtransmission of wireless communication signals into and out of the room.

In should be appreciated that the medical devices 10 may be secure orunsecure in their connection 51 to medical facility network 32. However,it is desirable for the medical devices 10 and the medical facilitynetwork to be in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability &Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other relevant standards.

In certain aspects, medical facility network 32 comprises afacility-wide network. In certain other aspects, medical facilitynetwork 32 comprises a local network. A local network may include, forexample, a network that is dedicated to a single room.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic depiction of a medical device 10entering a medical treatment area 400 is shown. In certain embodiments,medical treatment area 400 comprises a patient room 410 in a medicalfacility 450. The medical treatment area 400 could also be an operatingroom, an examination room, etc., as explained earlier.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of patient rooms 410 may be part ofmedical facility 450. Patient rooms 410 may be occupied by patients 420or may be vacant 440. In certain embodiments, medical device 10 andmedical treatment area 400 both have wireless communication devices 30allowing wireless interaction. In certain embodiments, the wirelesscommunication device 30 of medical treatment area 400 is connected tomedical facility network 32.

As medical device 10 enters through wireless communication devices 30treatment area 400, medical facility network 32 detects the presence ofmedical device 10. In certain embodiments, medical facility network 32transmits an initialization signal to medical device 10. The exchange ofthis information will be further described in detail with reference toFIGS. 6-7.

In medical facilities 450 such as hospitals, having a large number ofsophisticated medical devices 10 at any time, integration of suchmedical devices 10 into an overarching medical facility network 32 hasbecome a necessity. This necessity has been caused in part due to theinterdependence of certain medical devices 10 with each other. Forexample, a patient 420 connected to an IV pump 62 and a heart monitor(EKG) 77 may require the IV pump 62 to adjust its drip rate in responseto a particular heart rate as detected by heart monitor 77. This simpleexample illustrates the interdependence of just two medical devices 10.It should be appreciated that many medical devices 10 are dependent onother medical devices 10, thereby compounding the need for integration.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram illustrating a method ofintegrating a medical device 10 into a medical facility network 32,according to disclosed embodiments is shown. Initially, at step 300 ofthe flow diagram, a user logs on to access a software application byentering a personal identifier and password via a terminal 140 locatedwithin medical treatment area 400. If the terminal 140 identifies theuser as having the appropriate authority, a system menu is displayed ondisplay 150 at step 310. In an exemplary embodiment, the softwareapplication is associated with patient records. According to a preferredembodiment, the system menu is a comprehensive menu, allowing a useraccess patient records, manage inventory and perform billing functions.

Once the user is able to view the system menu, if a medical device 10having wireless capability 30 enters the medical treatment area 400,medical facility network 32 automatically detects the medical device 10at step 320. Such detection is achieved by either the medical device 10transmitting a signal to make medical facility network 32 aware that themedical device 10 is within wireless range or by medical facilitynetwork 32 periodically transmitting signals and receiving responsesfrom medical devices 10 that are within wireless range.

After the medical device 10 has been detected, medical facility network32 transmits an initialization signal to the medical device at step 330.The initialization signal may comprise instructions to power up to anactive power state. As stated above, the medical devices 10 arefrequently transported and used for a number of patients 420 in a numberof medical treatment areas 400. Therefore, the power state of themedical device 10 is an unknown. Typically, the medical device 10 is ina low power, sleep or off state when not being actively used in anothermedical treatment area 400.

Alternatively, the initialization signal may comprise instructions tobegin start up of a software program. For example, in certainembodiments, the medical device 10 has software installed for running aspecific program or set of programs. Such is the case for manysophisticated medical devices 10, such as infusion pump 190, forexample. In such an embodiment, infusion pump 190, may begin runningthrough pre-operation housekeeping checks.

Alternatively, the initialization signal may comprise instructions tocause the medical device 10 to assume a start up position. For example,the initialization signal may cause the medical device 10 to unlock.This initialization would be particularly useful for medical devices 10such as dispensing station 15, which typically has its drawers 16 lockeddue to the contents within the drawers 16, e.g., medications.

It should be realized that by integrating medical devices 10 into asystem 31 linked to medical facility network 32, a plurality of medicaldevices 10 may be controlled, e.g., initialized, at a single terminal140. Consequently, medical device information such as operatingconditions may be viewed by a user on a single display 150 or multipledisplays 150 arranged throughout medical treatment area 400.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flow diagram illustrating a method ofauthenticating a medical device 10 by a medical facility network 32,according to disclosed embodiments is shown. As a safeguard againstinitializing medical devices 10 which are not recognized by the medicalfacility 450 for a variety of reasons, medical facility network 32 mayauthenticate a medical device 10 after detecting medical device 10 atstep 320. Some reasons medical facility network 32 may not recognize amedical device 10 include, for example, the medical device 10 is new andhas not yet been entered into the network 32, the medical device 10 isretired and has been removed from the network 32, or the medical device10 is already dedicated to another patient 420 and requires a dischargefrom the patient 420 before it can be initialized for a new patient 420.

For authentication, medical facility network 32 requests identityinformation from a medical device 10 at step 500. Such request may beaccomplished by medical facility network 32 transmitting a requestsignal to the medical device 10. This occurs after the medical device 10has been powered up, as in FIG. 6.

In response to the information, the medical device 10 transmits a signalto medical facility network 32 comprising the requested device identityinformation. In certain embodiments, the device identity informationcomprises an electronic serial number associated with the medical device10. In certain embodiments, other device identifiers may be used.

Once medical facility network 32 receives medical device identityinformation, it can verify the authenticity of the medical device 10 atstep 510. Verification of the authenticity may be achieved, for example,by the medical facility network 32 inquiring as to whether a recordexists for the medical device 10. The medical device record may bestored in storage medium 36 or the medical device 10 itself.

After the medical device 10 is authenticated, the medical facilitynetwork 32 may then retrieve the medical device record from storagemedium 36 or the medical device 10 at step 520. The medical devicerecord may then be displayed on display 150 so that a user can view andedit the medical device record at terminal 140.

During the authentication of the medical device 10, a user may choose atany time to forgo transmitting an initialization signal to the medicaldevice 10 at step 330. Possible reasons for not sending aninitialization signal include the medical device 10 is not the righttype, the medical device 10 is no longer needed, etc.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a method and system for integratinga medical device 10 within a medical treatment area 400. According tocertain embodiments disclosed herein, the medical device 10 to beintegrated is equipped with a wireless communication device 30 such asby attaching or incorporating a Bluetooth or other wireless device intothe medical device 10. The wireless communication device 30 isrelatively inexpensive and may be readily installed. The medical devices10 may then communicate with the medical facility network 32 wirelessly.Such wireless communication allows for the medical devices 10 to beinitialized upon entry into a medical treatment area 400.

Connection of medical devices 10 with medical facility network 32, whichin turn is in communication with a user terminal 140, allows a user tocontrol the operating conditions of a plurality of medical devices 10from a single terminal 140. Such integration of medical devices 10promotes medical facility 450 efficiency and improves patient care.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of initializing a medical device withina medical treatment area, comprising: displaying a first system menu ona first display within a first medical treatment area of a plurality ofmedical treatment areas each disposed within a medical facility network,the first medical treatment area having a first wireless range;detecting introduction of the medical device into the first medicaltreatment area; initializing authentication of the medical device by themedical facility network if the medical device is not recognized by themedical facility network; transmitting, if the medical device is eitherrecognized or authenticated by the medical facility network, a firstinitialization signal from the medical facility network to the medicaldevice, wherein the first initialization signal causes initialization ofthe medical device within the first medical treatment area; controlling,by the first system menu, the medical device initialized within thefirst medical treatment area; displaying a second system menu on asecond display within a second medical treatment area of the pluralityof medical treatment areas, the second medical treatment area having asecond wireless range different than the first wireless range; detectingintroduction of the medical device into the second medical treatmentarea; transmitting a second initialization signal from the medicalfacility network to the medical device, wherein the secondinitialization signal causes initialization of the medical device withinthe second medical treatment area; and controlling, by the second systemmenu, the medical device initialized within the second medical treatmentarea.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein after detection of the medicaldevice, the medical facility network transmits an identity informationrequest signal to the medical device.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereinin response to the identity information request signal, the medicaldevice transmits an identity information signal to the medical facilitynetwork.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical facility networkis connected to the internet.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thewireless range is limited to approximately the first medical treatmentarea.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical facility networkcomprises a local network or facility-wide network.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein device identity information is specific to the medicaldevice and is an electronic serial number.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein initializing the medical device comprises powering the medicaldevice into an active power state.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereininitializing the medical device comprises starting up of a softwareprogram.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the medicaldevice comprises unlocking the medical device.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the medical device is in one of a low power state, a sleepstate and an off state when the medical device is removed from the firstmedical treatment area.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the medicaldevice is an infusion pump and starting up of the software programcomprises beginning pre-operation housekeeping checks of the infusionpump.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the medical device is amedication dispensing station comprising a cabinet supported by wheels,and wherein unlocking the medical device comprises unlocking one or moredrawers of the cabinet.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:initializing one or more additional medical devices within the firstmedical treatment area; and controlling, by the first system menu, allof the initialized medical devices within the first medical treatmentarea.
 15. A system for integrating a medical device into a medicalfacility network, comprising: first and second terminals interfacingwith the medical facility network; first and second displays inrespective communication with the first and second terminals; and amedical device within wireless range of the medical facility network,wherein the medical facility network is configured to: display a firstsystem menu on the first display within a first medical treatment area,the first medical treatment area having a first wireless range; detectintroduction of the medical device into the first medical treatmentarea; initialize authentication of the medical device if the medicaldevice is not recognized by the medical facility network; transmit afirst initialization signal to the medical device if the medical deviceis either recognized or authenticated, wherein the first initializationsignal causes the medical device to initialize within the first medicaltreatment area by one of powering the medical device into an activepower state, starting up a software program, and unlocking the medicaldevice; control, by the first system menu, the medical deviceinitialized within the first medical treatment area; display a secondsystem menu on the second display within a second medical treatmentarea, the second medical treatment area having a second wireless rangedifferent than the first wireless range; detect introduction of themedical device into the second medical treatment area; transmit a secondinitialization signal from the medical facility network to the medicaldevice, wherein the second initialization signal causes initializationof the medical device within the second medical treatment area; andcontrol, by the second system menu, the medical device initializedwithin the second medical treatment area.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the medical facility network is connected to the internet,thereby facilitating data exchange between the medical facility networkand another entity.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein device identityinformation is specific to the medical device and is an electronicserial number.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first wirelessrange is limited to approximately the first medical treatment area andthe second wireless range is limited to approximately the second medicaltreatment area.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the medical facilitynetwork comprises a local network or facility wide network.